By Peter Moore at Newbury Saturday 23rd March 2024
The final days jumping racing for 2024 at Newbury on Saturday saw a seven race card on Bet Victor Jumps Finale.
The opening race of the afternoon went to the Chris Gordon trained Goodwin ridden by son Freddie, who got the better of the Scottish challenger top weight Cannon Park by half a length.
The start of the second race on the card was delayed by over an hour due to a medical incident. An ambulance driver collapsed at the start of the 2m 3f mark and was immediately attended by medical staff.
The runners and riders eventually went back to the pre parade ring awaiting further instructions. Eventually the critical care team arrived at the scene and dealt with the emergency.
Once it was safe to restart racing, the delayed Bet In Play On Racing With Bet Victor Novices Handicap Hurdle went ahead with the Irish raider I Love My Baie taking the honours under JJ Slevin who picked up the ride at the last minute due to regular rider Daryl Jacob out injured due to breaking his collarbone at Newbury 24 hours earlier.
The successful partnership of Dan and Harry Skelton were back in the winners enclosure when the even money favourite Heltenham prevailed in the 2m 4f handicap chase to just get the better of locally trained Sir Psycho by a neck.
The Grade 2 Bet Victor mares novices hurdle went to the Jonjo O’Neill trained seven-year-old All The Glory at 25-1.
Coming to the last, four horses were in contention, before El Elefante fell at the last with All The Glory pulling clear to win by nine lengths.
The trainer had serious doubts about the ground, however after the race a smiling O’Neill said “She’s a great little mare and this was the plan, but I thought the ground would be too soft. Every shower that was coming, I thought nobody up there was looking after me.”
The £100,000 Goffs Bumper was won by top weight Regent’s Stroll for Paul Nicholls with another winner for leading jump jockey Harry Cobden who backed up his impressive Ascot debut win four months ago with another eye catching display.